Health officials are setting up a network of male jogging clubs across some of Scotland's poorest areas in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles.

The running network has sprung up in the wake of last year's inaugural Men's 10K in Glasgow, which attracted more than 1500 participants and was credited with giving the image of jogging a huge boost.

There are now 18 Scottish running clubs for men, mostly concentrated in Glasgow and surrounding areas and led by community volunteers.

Ministers believe jogging is a low-cost, accessible means of promoting exercise in areas of multiple deprivation - which can help cut Scotland's dire record on coronary disease.

The Scottish Executive is planning to expand the network and has provided jogscotland with £15,600 funding to train up to 40 male jog leaders and develop a further 10 male running clubs.

Health Minister Andy Kerr yesterday launched the 2007 10K which will be held on Father's Day, June 17, at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, and aims to attract more than 5000 people. Participants for the run must be male and aged over 15.

Mr Kerr said: "More and more men are viewing health as something to be enjoyed. Jogging is just one of the many ways to build physical activity into everyday life.

"An active life is within everyone's grasp and physical activity need not be extreme. Little things, like taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting off the bus a stop or two early can make a huge difference to our general health as well as helping us to feel good and live longer.

"I am determined that we will continue to turn Scotland's poor health record around. Individually and collectively, we can all take many more steps, large and small, to transform Scotland's health."

Though running was traditionally seen as the preserve of male athletes in the 1980s, the establishment of women's jogging networks and 10K runs has reversed the trend.

Popularising jogging for men is one of the aims of events such as the male 10K, Alistair Currie, manager of jogscotland, said.

"Whilst many men in Scotland currently run, at jogscotland we have found that it is mainly women who attend our groups. There is no simple answer to why that is the case but it has been suggested that men on the whole want to see results quickly and don't perhaps like being seen as a beginner' at something they try," he said.

"The Men's 10K has helped change that and with funding from the Scottish Executive we have been able to work with the Men's Health Forum Scotland to establish men-only groups to support the men who are just starting out on getting physically active."

One of the success stories of last year's 10K was the East End Pavement Pounders, set up in Glasgow.

Typically, men who had inactive lifestyles would start off by alternatively jogging and walking for 30 seconds until their fitness levels could be boosted to the point that they could go for longer runs.